The Future Combat System (FCS), a U.S. tank system, is being developed. It would have smart munitions, laser guns, and multi-purpose weapons. It would also have extended surveillance means. It would eventually be completely digital and autonomous of the logistics supply chain. The FCS would be able to perform all of the military's functions in one. The future military will need significant changes in doctrine, command and control, inter-service relationships, and other aspects.
Future of warfare will be a combination of industrial age warfare and knowledge-based warfare
The technology world is changing at an astonishing rate in the 21st century. The tools of war are changing rapidly, with everything from AI and robotics, to nano-technology and biotechnologies, to computing technology and processing. These technologies will be useful for many purposes as they advance, including guerilla warfare and precision weaponry. State sponsorship, black-market weapons sales, and looting will continue to attract non-state armed actors to military weaponry. For destructive weapons, commercial technologies may also be used. Some may be incorporated as crude weapons of mass destruction, while others could be incorporated into information-based weapons to produce cyber and bio weapons.
As new technologies become more advanced and better, they can also be used against United States. Cyberspace has been a powerful tool used by terrorists and criminal organizations. This scenario is very possible. The ability of non-state actors to access such new technologies allows them to pursue weaponization without public disapproval. It is also possible that military experimentation will take place in areas such as human enhancement.
There are potentially lethal autonomous weapons that could roam the battlefield
Artificial intelligence has opened the door to fully autonomous lethal weapons that would completely remove human control over deadly force. The medical community has long been against the development or use of lethal arms. They support total bans upon chemical and nuclear weapons. Nongovernmental organizations, however, have called for a legally binding ban. However, the medical community has not been a prominent voice in the debate on autonomous weapons.
Some countries have already explored the possibility of using artificial Intelligence in their weapons. These nations argue that artificial intelligence could be used to better target enemy fighters and deactivate them when they're not on target. It also reduces the risks associated with intensive attacks. In the meantime, activists have been calling for the United Nations to ban lethal autonomous weapons.
Cost of crewed alternatives for autonomous weapons
One of the biggest questions posed by autonomous weapons is their cost. Because they do not require human life and can be mass produced, autonomous weapons should be less costly than manned ones. Defensive autonomous weapons should also be less expensive than offensive ones. They may be less expensive than offensive weapons because they don't require mobility. Additionally, defense states might use these weapons more frequently to impose higher cost on attacking countries.
Automated weapons could reduce the need for human soldiers and help to lower the cost. Fully autonomous weapons are still decades away but there are already precursors. Some militaries have begun to develop drone swarms that can target air defenses of enemy aircraft. These drones are affordable and can overwhelm defenses, which ensures the safety of manned airplanes. The net effect from autonomous weapons could depend on several factors, including the significance of the application as well as the reliability of system.
Threats to the proliferation of militarily relevant technology
The proliferation militarily relevant technologies could pose a threat for international security. The potential for conflict to be aggravated and a nuclear accident to occur if these technologies are used for offensive purposes. Several of these technologies have been used in the development of military systems, such as missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
WMD proliferation is a serious threat to the United States, world peace and security, and the United Nations. North Korea is not the only country that seeks nuclear weapons. Other nations also have sophisticated ballistic rockets and continue proliferating them to terrorist organizations and regional proxies. Russia and China have also been rapidly developing weapons and are providing more advanced weapons for their regional partners.